Remuer

Remuer is a French verb meaning to move something in a way that causes stirring, shaking, or shifting. It is commonly used for physical actions such as stirring a pot, shuffling cards, or nudging an object, but it can also describe figurative movement, such as stirring emotions, memories, or public sentiment. In idiomatic use, it can convey forcing change or provoking a reaction, as in phrases like remuer ciel et terre (to move heaven and earth) or remuer les souvenirs (to stir up memories).

Grammatical notes: Remuer is a regular -er verb. In the present tense the forms are: je remue, tu remues, il remue, nous remuons, vous remuez, ils remuent. The past participle is remué, and the passé composé is formed with auxiliary avoir (j’ai remué). The imperfect is formed with the stem remu- plus imperfect endings (je remuais, tu remuais, il remuait, nous remuions, vous remuiez, ils remuaient). The infinitive is remuer and the gerund is en remuant.

Usage and nuance: In culinary contexts remuer denotes continuous stirring to prevent sticking or burning. In games or crafts it can mean to shuffle or rearrange items, such as remuer les cartes. Metaphorically, remuer can express moving or disturbing someone or something, for example remuer les émotions or remuer les idées, and in idiomatic expressions it appears in phrases like remuer le couteau dans la plaie (to rub salt in the wound) or remuer la poussière (to stir up dust).

Etymology: The word comes from Old French remuer, formed with the prefix re- meaning again or back, tied to a root related to movement. It is a standard verb in everyday French with wide and flexible usage.